Beyond Us & Them

Beyond Us & Them Beyond Us & Them (previously Center for Council) is the leading solution-focused nonprofit aimed at ending the loneliness epidemic.

We think globally and act locally, innovating extensive council based programming that fosters connection and compassion.

Prof. Kendi Guantai lives and breaths the way of council. As the University Dean for Culture and Inclusion at Lancaster ...
06/12/2026

Prof. Kendi Guantai lives and breaths the way of council.

As the University Dean for Culture and Inclusion at Lancaster University, she holds council circles on campus for students and faculty to engage in meaningful and heart-ful dialogue.

We're fortunate to call Prof. Guantai a Board Member, and she recently took the time to comment on a full-circle moment involving our founder, Jared Seide.

Read below for more.

Join Lyndon, and others from the Beyond Us & Them team, this Sunday, 6/14 at 10am at the London Hotel in West Hollywood!...
06/09/2026

Join Lyndon, and others from the Beyond Us & Them team, this Sunday, 6/14 at 10am at the London Hotel in West Hollywood!

An in-person council circle will be facilitated by Dre Bendewald and Lui Sanchez.

Together, Andrea’s heart-centered approach to storytelling and connection meets Lui’s mission of building deeper understanding and belonging, creating a unique experience that honors both feminine and masculine energy in balance.

Details below 🙏 The DEN Meditation

Instead of patrolling the streets and making arrests, 17-year LAPD veteran Lyndon Barber can be found leading council ci...
06/04/2026

Instead of patrolling the streets and making arrests, 17-year LAPD veteran Lyndon Barber can be found leading council circles for law enforcement and first responders as part of Beyond Us & Them’s POWER Training Program.

The POWER program helps officers bring emotional regulation and mindfulness practices to their high-stress work environments, helping officers like Lyndon “regulate in real time, in life-threatening emergencies.”

He sits down with Andrea Bendewald on this week’s episode of Circle This podcast to talk about what happens when those practices enter a system built on control, suppressing emotion and following authority.

Click the link below for more.

A rare opportunity to master the art of council ✨If you've taken council training level 1 (CT1), and you have a regular ...
05/28/2026

A rare opportunity to master the art of council ✨

If you've taken council training level 1 (CT1), and you have a regular and consistent practice, we would love to invite you to council training level 2: Deepening Council Training (CT2).

Submit your letter of intent and learn more by scanning the qr code.

During this time of division and strife, nonjudgmental listening and heart-ful conversation is an act of resistance. A p...
05/27/2026

During this time of division and strife, nonjudgmental listening and heart-ful conversation is an act of resistance.

A place beyond the us vs them narrative. The "field" in Rumi's poem: out beyond wrongdoing and rightdoing.

Whether you're a newcomer to our work, or a longtime council ally, we'd love your support. Please consider making a donation, taking a workshop, or bringing a council-based program into your school or organization.

05/18/2026

Amazing viral moment featuring the ED and founder of Beyond Us & Them, Jared Seide, and his wife Ann. Seal picked Jared out of the crowd and serenaded him while singing about compassion, strength and circles.... talk about a full-circle moment 😉⭕️

“It was a magical experience…”A dynamic and diverse group of teachers, artists, prison chaplains, reentry workers, two B...
05/13/2026

“It was a magical experience…”

A dynamic and diverse group of teachers, artists, prison chaplains, reentry workers, two Buddhist roshis and a storied Catholic nun gathered at the Avila Carmelite Center in Dublin, Ireland, for a powerful “Foundations of Council” training workshop last month.

One attendee was Sister Imelda Wickham, a vocal advocate for restorative justice, who has spent 20 years working in Irish prisons. She is the author of the book: Unheard Voices: Reflections of a Prison Chaplin and has recognized the immense benefit of recovering the stories of those who have been made to feel story-less.

To learn more about Sister Imelda Wickham's journey and hear feedback from participants, check out our blog post!

Join us in-person for a unique and soulful council experience on Sunday, June 14!Facilitated by Dre Bendewald and Lui Sa...
05/07/2026

Join us in-person for a unique and soulful council experience on Sunday, June 14!

Facilitated by Dre Bendewald and Lui Sanchez and in partnership with The Den Meditation, this experience is designed to cultivate balance, openness and genuine connection.

Whether coming solo or with a friend, you'll be welcomed exactly as you are.

Scan the QR code to learn more and save your seat! We hope to see you there.

Powerful revelations abound in our council training workshops!Our trainings are an incredible opportunity to give yourse...
04/27/2026

Powerful revelations abound in our council training workshops!

Our trainings are an incredible opportunity to give yourself the gift of presence, openheartedness and connection.

If you've been feeling the call to push pause on the demands of life, check out our next workshop May 16-17 at the beautiful Audubon Center at Debs Park.

Use code 20off for 20% off!

We thoroughly enjoyed rocking our Beyond Us & Them gear at the Main Street Farmers Market last weekend. Thank you to tho...
04/23/2026

We thoroughly enjoyed rocking our Beyond Us & Them gear at the Main Street Farmers Market last weekend. Thank you to those who stopped by and said hello!

To us, the gear carries a message of connection.

It's amazing how easily we can build bridges when we're wearing these bold statement pieces, reminding the world that connection is stronger than conflict.

Click the link below for more.

Address

1751 Colorado Boulevard, #371
Los Angeles, CA
90029

Telephone

(213) 377-5747

Website

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